Wednesday, June 29, 2011

This past Sunday, my sister had a graduation party for my youngest niece, who graduated from 8th Grade a few weeks ago. At one point, my dad was handed a guitar (which happens at EVERY family gathering) and I decided to try and capture a bit of his performance. It actually hit me like a ton of bricks - why have I never taped him before?! So, I grabbed my camera. The first video I made was so dark, you couldn't even see him, so I made him move to where there was more light. This is the second video. It still isn't the best, but that probably has to do with the fact that a) I have a cheap, crappy camera and b) there was a party going on around him! The sound is awful. And, on top of all that, my daddy has been fighting a cold, so please excuse the coughing. I took more video, but none of it turned out all that great, so I won't bore you with it all. This is already probably longer than you want to watch, anyway.

My uncle, who brought the guitar, eventually took it back to play a little more. My parents decided to get up and dance a little. Back in the day, these two were referred to as "Fred and Ginger" because they were SO incredible at dancing together. Now, they're both older, and my dad has some serious issues with his legs (bad circulation, probably due to his diabetes) so they don't quite move the way they used to. But, hell, for an almost-70 year-old man, I think he still does pretty well, don't you? (again, the video's not the greatest because I need a real camera!)

(I just rewatched these videos, and I started laughing because of what's going on in the background. I love how nobody is paying attention to the "performers" because it's so common-place at our gatherings. I told you my family is nuts!! But, I wouldn't trade 'em for the world!!)

Guess what I did at Walmart this afternoon. You'll never believe it. I almost don't believe it!

I walked past a crockpot that was on clearance! A 5 quart crockpot for $10!!! OMG, there's a little part of me that's having palpitations right now about NOT snatching it up. I started to pick it up and put it in my cart, then I screamed (in my head, of course) at myself, "What the actual fuck are you doing?! You have TWELVE crockpots, you lunatic!!" I gently placed it back on the shelf, gave it a gentle caress, and ran out of the aisle!!

Yes, I know you're proud of me. Just send me the strength to not go back there later and get it. ;-)

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

For the past two years, we've been using this awesome math program called STMath to supplement our regular math program (which I despise, by the way!!). I received an email today from the company that included this video. I thought it showed a great sample of what the program is about, I wanted to share it with you. (If you watch the video, you'll see one of the reasons I was immediately drawn to the program!) Are any of you using this at your school?

Monday, June 20, 2011

...the end of the school year. Although Friday was supposed to be our last day, we still had to work today, and then tomorrow. That's to make up for the 2 snow days we had in February.

Now, the kids already made up their 2 days. They made one up almost immediately in February. We were supposed to have professional development day on Lincoln's birthday, which meant the kids were supposed to be off, but they canceled that and made the kids come to school. Ok, that kinda makes sense. However, guess when the 2nd day was made up. Go 'head, guess. Um...yeah...it was last Wednesday!!!! Please, someone explain to me what instruction was being made up the day before school got out for the summer. You know what was accomplished that day? Well, let's see, they cleaned out their desks, they washed their desks and chairs, the helped me purge the room of tons of garbage, they organized the manipulatives, I think you get the idea. There was NO instruction taking place. Yeah, it doesn't make sense to me either. All I know it that Wednesday was also supposed to be a professional development day. It was supposed to be the day for us to complete our records, and finish getting our rooms packed up. Instead, we had to babysit. AND, on top of all that, instead of being finished on Friday, we had to continue our school year into this week!

I think the whole thing is just ridiculous. First of all, we went for 12 years without using a snow day. Secondly, we supposedly have 5 snow days built into our calendar, so WTF?! Finally, what pisses me off the most is that, although they paid us for those 2 days, they paid us out of our banked summer money. I don't know if I've ever explained our pay system before (so I apologize if I already have) but basically they take money out of every check during the school year, then bank it (and, of course, earn interest on OUR money!!) to pay us during the summer. So, we ALREADY EARNED the money they paid us with. So, please, explain to me why we have to work 2 more days to 'earn' the money back that we ALREADY EARNED! I would have rather gone 2 days without pay over the summer.

Oh, and on top of Monday and Tuesday being make up days for us, New Principal decided that we need to work Wednesday and Thursday, too. Although she can't 'make' us work those days, she put right on our agenda that those days are "STRONGLY SUGGESTED." (Next to Monday and Tuesday it said "MANDATORY.") She made the statement during a meeting last week that those people who couldn't be bother to show up should basically look for another job because they obviously aren't committed to the Hell-Hole. So our already short 6 week summer break has now been cut to 5 weeks. Oh, AND, in that same meeting, she told us that she expects us to come in 1 week in July to work on planning for next school year. So, we're down to 4 weeks.

Now, trust me, I know some of you are thinking, "Quit yer bitchin'! You get FOUR weeks off!" (Well, some of you non-teachers are thinking that. My teacher buddies get it!) But, most of you know how unbelievably stressful this year has been for me. Well, actually, maybe you don't since I REALLY held back from bitching about it here. Regardless, you know that I really need some down time. I'm fairly certain that 4 weeks just isn't going to cut it.

I know this probably sounds ridiculous, but I still feel like I haven't recovered from not getting one single day off LAST summer, and going straight from one school, to summer school, to the next school year, all while trying to move 10 years of "stuff" from one classroom to another (right across the damn hall, by the way!!) I really needed this summer to rest and regroup.

If you're suddenly thinking, "What the hell, ChiTown, I thought you were quitting!?" you're going to have to come back tomorrow for the update. I meant to post about it over the weekend, but I was too busy trying to enjoy myself, and celebrate my awesome Daddy! Until next time...

Friday, June 17, 2011

Thursday, June 9, 2011

...looks more like this...or, even this......cuz the weatherman just said it's FIFTY-THREE outside!! Woo-freakin'-hoo!! Now THAT'S what I like! I don't even care that our temperature fluctuated by almost 50 degrees in one day. It's supposed to stay this way for a couple of days. Let's hope it does, for my sanity's sake!

We had a storm from hell this morning. All I could think when the thunder and lightening was literally shaking my house this morning is, "Hmmm...I wonder how many of the babies will stay home today?" It was THAT bad. It was so bad, in fact, that I almost called in sick this morning because there was water pouring into my basement this morning. It looked like a friggin' waterfall under my stairs. And, no, I'm NOT exaggerating. It already had made its way to the kitchen, and there was also a few puddles in the laundry room. I threw down all the towels I had available, and left for work. My driveway was already flooded, as was my street, and most of the streets I had to take to get to the Hell-Hole.

I couldn't call in today because I took yesterday off. It was mostly for fun (aka a mental health day!) but I did take care of a lot of errands that needed to be done. I actually had a really nice day, despite the fact that the heat index was, again, over 100. (That actually had a LOT to do with my decision to take the day off. It was unbearable at school the day before. I knew it legitimately would NOT be good for my health.) I figured it wouldn't be so bad at school today because I knew many of the kids wouldn't come. My partner across the hall only had 8 kids show up. One of the 2nd grade teachers had 4! I, of course, had 18. The art teacher stuck his head in at one point this afternoon specifically to tell me that I had the biggest class of kids in school today. Oh...great... Then, he tried to make me feel better by saying, "Well, you KNOW why that is, right? They LOVE you!" Yeah, well, that doesn't make me feel better, pal!

There are 4 days and about 1 hour left with the kids. I hate to say it, but it can NOT go by fast enough. This year has been the WORST in all my years of teaching, and I just want it to end. I don't want to start complaining, so instead, I'm going to go watch Jimmy Kimmel's pre-game show, and enjoy the cool breeze blowing in my window right now.

***I just found this in todays' Chicago Sun Times. See, it's not just me.***

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

I've been a die-hard Cubs fan my whole life. I suppose it's because my grandpa was a HUGE Cubs fan, as is my mom's brother, and now the rest of my family. Some of my earliest, and fondest, memories are of my grandpa sitting in his chair, in front of the TV, smoking his pipe, and watching the Cubs. I used to love sitting there with him, even when I didn't know what the hell was going on. As I got older, maybe 5 or 6, I paid attention and learned about the game, and then grew to truly enjoy watching. Although, the best part was always spending that time with my gramps. Even now, whenever a game is on, just the sound of it instantly transports me back to those days, back to the 'old neighborhood,' back to my grandparents' old house, etc. Some days, it makes me cry, because I miss my gramps SO much. Most days, though, it makes me smile.

When I was in grade school, any student who had perfect attendance won tickets to a ball game. We got to choose Cubs or Sox tickets. I won tickets every single year, K-8th grade. I (duh!) always picked Cubs tickets, and have some wonderful memories of being out at Wrigley Field with my family. Usually, my uncle would take me, since my dad could NOT possibly care less about sports. (Well, except for soccer, of course. He used to play professionally back in the 'old country.' I should have specified "American sports!")

For years, we've been talking about going to see a game together again. The last time I was at Wrigley for a Cubs game, I was VERY pregnant with Stud Muffin. It was not the most comfortable afternoon, let me tell you. Very pregnant + Chicago heat + bleacher seats = Cranky ChiTown!! I think this summer, I'm going to take my uncle to a game. Actually, maybe I'll surprise him with some tickets for Father's Day. Hmmm...I'd better get working on this little plan...

The smaller one turned to the bigger one and said, "I can't understand how you can be so much bigger than mewe're the same age, we were the same size as kids. I just don't get it."

"Well," said the big Croc, "what have you been eating?"

"Politicians, same as you," replied the small Croc.

"Hmm. Well, where do you catch them?"

"Down the other side of the swamp near the parking lot by the Capitol."

"Same here. Hmm. How do you catch them?"

"Well, I crawl up under one of their Lexus cars and wait for one to unlock the car door. Then I jump out, grab them by the leg, shake the shit out of them and eat 'em!"

"Ah!" says the big Crocodile, "I think I see your problem. You're not getting any real nourishment. See, by the time you finish shaking the shit out of a Politician, there's nothing left but an asshole and a briefcase."